back synonyms

back

modif.

rear, hinder, after, in back of, in the wake of, backward, hindmost, behind, abaft, astern, hind, rearward, aback, aft, to or in the rear, dorsal, caudal, following, at the heels of, posterior, terminal, in the wake, in the background, final.

Antonyms front*, forward*, head.

back

n.

  1. The rear part or side

    rear, hinder part, posterior, stern, poop, aft, tailpiece, tail, back end, end, reverse, flip side.

    Antonyms front*, fore part, fore. *

  2. The rear of the torso

    posterior, dorsal aspect, tergum, dorsum, tergal portion, spinal portion, hindquarters, rump, backbone, spine; see also rump.

    Antonyms chest*, stomach*, ventral aspect.

  3. One who plays behind the line, especially in football

    linebacker, fullback, halfback, quarterback, tailback, flanker back, wingback, running back, slot back, blocking back, cornerback, safety man, free safety, ball carrier, kicker, passer, pass receiver.

behind one's back

in secret, without one's knowledge, surreptitiously, underhandedly; see secretly.

(flat) on one's back

ill, bedridden, helpless, laid up; see sick.

get off one's back*<strong>

let alone, stop nagging, leave one in peace; see neglect 1.

get one's back up*

become angry, be stubborn, lose one's temper; see rage 1.

in back of

at the rear, behind, coming after; see backmodif., following.

turn one's back on

reject, desert, fail; see abandon 1.

with one's back to the wall

desperate, cornered, stopped; see sad 1, trapped.

back

v.

  1. To move or cause to move backward

    back up, reverse, withdraw, drive backward; see retreat 1.

  2. To further

    support, uphold, stand behind, finance; see support 2, 5.

  3. To equip with a back

    stiffen, cane, line; see strengthen. See syn. study at support.

Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.